Etem reaches the 60-goal mark in WHL

DENVER -- Scoring 50 goals in the Western Hockey League is apparently not enough of a feat for Emerson Etem.

Etem continues his rampage through the WHL in 2011-12 as the Ducks' goal-scoring prospect became the first player in 11 years to score 60 in a season in the league.

The 19-year-old winger reached the mark on Saturday when he scored twice for the Medicine Hat Tigers in their 3-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The last WHL player to score 60 in a season was Layne Ulmer in 2001.

Etem also became the first player out of the three Canadian major junior leagues to score 60 since Brett MacLean potted 61 for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League in 2007-08.

Does that mean Etem is bound for NHL stardom? Hardly.

For instance, Ulmer played in one game with the New York Rangers and has been in Europe for the last six years after a number of seasons in the American Hockey League. MacLean has yet to establish himself as an NHL regular after cups of coffee with Phoenix and Winnipeg.

And there are many current NHLers who didn't score 60 goals in a junior season. But what it does guarantee is that the 2010 first-round selection will closely watched in September to see whether he is ready to make the leap after a so-so training camp got him sent back to Medicine Hat with the orders to dominate the WHL.

Mission accomplished there.

Related posts:

[rssfeedme cat="ducks" feedpath="tag/emerson-etem/feed/" max="7"]

The latest news from The Orange County Register Ducks blog. Text OCRDUCKS to 56654 to get free Ducks news alerts.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.